 |
| Ho Chi Minh City Museum (Photo: baovanhoa.vn) |
The museums will also be free on the International Labour Day, May 1.
Local residents and students from colleges and universities will be encouraged to visit the HCM City Museum of History in Nguyen Binh Khiem street and HCM City Museum in Ly Tu Trong street of District 1.
The HCM City War Remnants Museum in Vo Van Tan street and HCM City Southern Women’s Museum of District 3 are also included.
These museums were also opened free to the public on April 18 to celebrate Hung Kings’ Day, the anniversary of the death of the legendary founders of the nation on the 10th day of the third lunar month.
The city is home to 17 museums and 185 historical and cultural heritage sites.
Museums attracted more than 3 million visitors last year, double the amount compared to the same period of 2022, reported the city’s Department of Culture and Information. The number of foreign visitors was around 250,000.
Museums organised 105 exhibitions and showcases, including many online displays featuring the country’s history and culture in different periods.
The HCM City Museum of History, one of the city’s seven biggest museums, offers exhibitions and showcases featuring Vietnamese history and culture.
Many ancient artefacts, paintings and sculptures dating from the prehistoric era to the end of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), the country's last royal family, are displayed.
 |
| Seventeen museums in HCM City attract 3 million visitors last year. (Photo courtesy of HCM City Museum of History) |
Antiques of the Oc Eo Culture - a rich culture of the ancient kingdom of Phu Nam which was discovered in 1944 via artefacts found at sites near Ba The Mountain, now Oc Eo town in An Giang province - are also featured.
The HCM City Southern Women’s Museum offers a smart museum mobile app, providing guests with information about well-known historical figures, historical background and video clips. This app acts as an electronic guide in different languages.
According to Vo Trong Nam, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Information, local authorities have supported museums to upgrade and improve their business, especially online activities, which help guests to view the exhibitions through websites, fanpages and YouTube.
Pangasius exports to UAE surge by 67% in Q1
Vietnamese Tra fish (pangasius) exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market during the first quarter of the year surged by 67% to more than US$7 million against the same period from last year, Radio the Voice of Vietnam quoted the data of the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
In March alone, Vietnam exported pangasius worth more than US$2 million to the UAE, marking an increase of 62% compared to March.
The UAE mainly imported frozen fillet products coded HS 0304 from the Vietnamese market with a turnover reaching more than US$2 million in March, up 51% against the same period from last year and 81% compared to the previous month. This product accounted for 93% of the country’s total pangasius exports to the UAE.
 |
| Pangasius exports to UAE surge by 67% in Q1 (Photo: VOV) |
The first quarter of the year witnessed the UAE import frozen Vietnamese pangasius fillets worth nearly US$7 million, up 56% on-year.
Furthermore, the country also imported fresh/frozen/dried pangasius and pangasius value-added products worth US$517,000 and US$152,000, respectively, representing a 15-fold rise and up 62% against the same period from last year.
Experts pointed out that there remains ample room for Vietnamese pangasius exports to the market due to the UAE's large population, high income, and rapid urbanization rate.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the UAE consumes more than 220,000 tonnes of seafood annually and has a per capita seafood consumption of 28.6 kilo per year, higher than the global average.
Moreover, the UAE Central Bank has raised its growth forecast for the UAE economy to 5.7% this year from the previous figure of 4.3%.
Vietnam imports nearly VND352 million worth of fertilisers in Q1
Imported fertiliser volume soared in March, with China being the biggest supplier, the Vietnam News Agency quoted the preliminary statistics of the General Department of Customs.
Last month, Vietnam imported about 429,000 tonnes of fertilisers worth US$123 million, up 52.3% month-on-month in quantity and 35% in value.
The average import price was US$287 per tonne, down 11.6% from February.
China was the leading supplier, with a total of nearly 175,000 tonnes. This represented a significant growth of almost 44% in quantity, over 55% in value and nearly 8% in price from the previous month.
 |
| Vietnam imports nearly VND352 million worth of fertilisers in Q1 (Photo: VOV) |
In the first three months of 2024, the country imported over 1.12 million tonnes of fertilisers, valued at nearly US$352 million, with an average price of over US$314 per tonne.
China remained the main importing market, accounting for approximately 42% of the total volume and over 29% of the total import value.
Vietnam also imported fertilisers from other markets, including Russia, Southeast Asia, and members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Dr. Phung Ha, vice chairman and secretary general of the Vietnam Fertiliser Association (FAV), said that Chinese fertilisers have consistently been the most imported into Vietnam.
This is due to China's significant role as a major producer and exporter of fertilisers worldwide.
Currently, Vietnam faces a shortage or inability to domestically produce certain types of fertilisers, Ha told plo.vn. For instance, in the case of DAP, domestic production capacity is only around 400,000 - 500,000 tonnes, whereas the demand exceeds 1 million tonnes, necessitating imports.
Regarding NPK fertilisers, Vietnam import those with high nutrient content while exporting those with lower nutrient content to neighbouring markets, Ha added.
According to the FAV Vice Chairman, the country’s fertiliser supply is not solely reliant on foreign markets.
Some fertilisers, like urea and superphosphate, are produced for both domestic use and export.
The proportion of Vietnam’s fertiliser exports has been increasing, reaching US$1.7 billion in 2022 due to restrictions on fertiliser exports by certain countries.
HCMC to hold second international photography festival
The second international photography festival 2024 is scheduled to get underway from November 29 to December 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, with the event featuring a wide range of activities, according to Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
The major aim of the four-day event is to introduce Vietnamese landscapes and people to international friends. In addition, it also offers an excellent opportunity for both local and international artists to meet and exchange their respective experiences on the art of photography, according to the organisers of HCM City Photography Association (HOPA) at a press conference on April 22.
The highlight of the occasion will be a photo exhibition held on Dong Khoi street which will display an array of award-winning pieces from international photo contests.
 |
| A photo taken by photographer Trinh Ngan Lien wins a gold medal at the HCMC international photo contest. (Photo courtesy of HPA) |
Another photo exhibition will also take place at Chi Lang Park, with the venue showcasing beautiful landscapes and people's cultural life from throughout the city.
The organisers will also hold a camp for photographers to come together to share their artworks and experiences on the art of photography.
The festival is hosted by HOPA with support given by the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), Image Sans Frontiere (ISF), and the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA). It was first held back in 2022, with thousands of photos taken by Vietnamese and international photographers being put on show.
Each contestant can submit photos via the website at https://hopaphotocontest3rd.com./.